A brand-new book festival for young adults aged 11-16 has been announced in collaboration with Suffolk-based fringe literary organisation Foreword Festival. The book festival takes place at Stowmarket Library on Saturday 14 September between 10.30AM and 4PM and will include author interviews and Q&As, writing activities and competitions, a book fair and more.
The festival will feature panel-style talks with guest speakers Pam Smy, author of the Thornhill Series, Annalise Avery, former manager at Beccles Library and author of The Immortal Games, and Rachel Churcher, author of the Battle Ground series.
This event will offer the chance for teens and young adults to talk about their favourite novels, discuss what makes a good protagonist, voting on favourite ‘bad guys’ in fiction, and learn the basics of how to write a compelling story. There will also be the opportunity to purchase signed books from these local authors at a mini book fair at the end of the day.
This event is free to attend but booking is required. Attendees will need to bring their own packed lunch.
Rachel Churcher, one of the featured authors and co-founder of Foreword Festival, is organising this festival. She said:
“We’re really excited about this event. Young Adult readers are passionate about books, characters and stories, and we wanted to give them a chance to share their enthusiasm with other readers – and with local YA authors!
"Young Adult books address real issues and concerns in the lives of teenage readers, whether through fantasy, science fiction, romance, dystopia, or relatable high-school stories. The right book in the right hands at the right time can change a life, and that’s why we’re working to bring young people into the library – and hopefully encourage the next generation of readers and writers.”
Other authors will be signing books at the book fair, including Julia Blake, K.A. Hayton, Ally Aldridge, M.T. McGuire, Rebecca Fox, and Ian Hornett. Cllr Terence Carter, the Mayor of Stowmarket, will also be attending to open the event.
This event has been organised in collaboration with Foreword Festival, Taller Books, and is kindly sponsored by Paul Wright Estate Agents, Harris & Harris Books, and the East of England Co-Op.
